Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "FantasyPros - 6 Fantasy Football Projections That SCARE Us For 2025" (Ep. 1587)
Release Date: June 14, 2025
Hosts: Joe P. Zapia, Derrick Brown (DBRO), and Pat Fitzmaurice
Description: In this episode, the Fantasy Pros team delves into six fantasy football player projections for the 2025 season that raise concerns. Hosts analyze each player's projected performance, discussing potential risks and discrepancies between current projections and previous performances.

1. Chase Brown – Running Back

Timestamp: [02:24]
Speaker: Derrick Brown

Derrick Brown expresses significant concern over Chase Brown's fantasy football projections for 2025, highlighting a steep drop from RB1 to RB17 in projections.

“The projections we have have Chase Brown as RB17 right now. So if that comes to fruition, yes, we all need to be scared because we are drafting him in early best balls and ranking him as an RB one.” — Derrick Brown [02:24]

Discussion Points:

• Volume vs. Efficiency: While Brown had impressive yards last season, Derrick worries about his efficiency metrics, including explosive run rate and missed tackles.
• Team Dynamics: Pat Fitzmaurice counters by suggesting that Chase Brown will likely remain the lead back in Cincinnati's strong offense, projecting him closer to RB11.

“I think we can kind of count on the efficiency staying high.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [05:57]

Conclusion: While there is consensus that Chase Brown is talented, the disparity between his current RB17 projection and his RB1 ranking raises red flags about potential overvaluation in drafts.

2. Drake May – Quarterback

Timestamp: [06:34]
Speaker: Pat Fitzmaurice

Pat Fitzmaurice brings attention to Drake May's projections, particularly criticizing the underestimation of his rushing abilities.

“The projections have Drake May, QB20 and fantasy scoring. That's the scary part. I have May at QB9 so big alarming gap there.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [05:57]

Discussion Points:

• Rushing Potential: Both Pat and Joe believe Drake May's rushing yards and touchdowns are projected too conservatively, potentially undervaluing his dual-threat capabilities.
• Offensive Strategy: Derrick aligns with the current projections but expresses concerns about New England’s improved defense possibly limiting May's passing attempts.

“And so are we going to see Josh McDaniels airing the ball out? Are they going to play more conservative?” — Derrick Brown [09:26]

Conclusion: There is optimism that Drake May could outperform his QB20 projection, especially if his rushing contributions exceed expectations, making him a valuable asset in super flex leagues.

3. Tyreek Hill – Wide Receiver

Timestamp: [14:13]
Speaker: Derrick Brown

Tyreek Hill's projections have narrowed from WR3/WR2 to WR15/WR16, causing uncertainty among the hosts.

“Right now he's wide receiver 14 and projections. He's wide receiver 15 and ADP and wide receiver 14 and ECR. That scares the crap out of me.” — Derrick Brown [14:13]

Discussion Points:

• Performance Decline: Last year saw Hill’s performance dip significantly, raising doubts about his ability to bounce back.
• Offensive Line Issues: The continued struggles of the Dolphins' offensive line and Tua Tagovailoa’s performance further hinder Hill's potential.

“The offensive line still one of the worst in the league.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [17:45]

Conclusion: Despite Tyreek Hill’s elite status, combined with offensive line deficiencies and previous performance declines, his current projections may not reflect his true ceiling, leading to wary drafting strategies.

4. Kyron Williams – Running Back

Timestamp: [21:31]
Speaker: Pat Fitzmaurice

Kyron Williams is projected as RB1, but Pat Fitzmaurice questions the sustainability of this ranking.

“The projections are very confident that he's going to be exactly that [RB1].” — Pat Fitzmaurice [22:47]

Discussion Points:

• Volume Ownership: Derrick Brown expresses concern that Williams' high carry volume may not translate into RB1 status if efficiency decreases or if teammates like Jarquez Hunter emerge.
• Efficiency Concerns: Kyron has shown inconsistency in yards per carry and pass-catching abilities, which may not support his projected RB1 role.

“All this is volume stranglehold based. It's not because of the efficiency.” — Derrick Brown [23:35]

Conclusion: While Kyron Williams has secured a high projection, the reliance on volume without consistent efficiency presents a risk of him slipping to RB2 if circumstances in the Los Angeles Rams' backfield change.

5. Xavier Worthy – Wide Receiver

Timestamp: [26:50]
Speaker: Derrick Brown

Xavier Worthy's projection as WR20 raises concerns about his ability to meet those expectations given his role and quarterback performance.

“We are projecting that Patrick Mahomes is going to support two top 20 wide receivers and Travis Kelce obviously is a tight end one this year.” — Derrick Brown [26:50]

Discussion Points:

• Quarterback Performance: Mahomes’ declining deep passing accuracy may limit Worthy's opportunities as a deep threat.
• Rushing Contributions: The aggressive rushing projections for Worthy (118 yards and 2.7 touchdowns) are seen as risky and potentially unreliable.

“The rushing projections for Worthy are pretty aggressive.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [29:08]

Conclusion: Xavier Worthy's projections are questioned due to uncertainties in his receiving role and the aggressive assumptions regarding his rushing contributions, making him a risky pick at a high projection slot.

6. Bucky Irving – Running Back

Timestamp: [29:59]
Speaker: Pat Fitzmaurice

Bucky Irving’s projections appear conservative compared to Pat’s expectations based on last season’s performance.

“They have him projected for 234 carries, a little over 1100 rushing yards... I'm scared by projections that I find reasonable that have him less valuable than I think he is.” — Pat Fitzmaurice [30:48]

Discussion Points:

• Workload and Efficiency: The projected carries and rushing yards for Irving appear lower than his performance last year, causing Pat to question his undervaluation.
• Team Dynamics: With Rashad White’s role diminished, Irving's increased workload may not fully capitalize on his potential, especially if offensive schemes change.

Conclusion: Bucky Irving may offer more value than his projections indicate, but uncertainties about his workload and efficiency under changing team dynamics make him a cautious consideration for drafts.

Final Thoughts

Throughout the episode, Joe P. Zapia encourages listeners to engage by sharing their thoughts and potentially winning prizes. The hosts emphasize the importance of scrutinizing player projections beyond surface-level rankings to identify potential busts or undervalued assets in fantasy drafts.

“You've heard all the scary stories now about Chase Brown, Tyreek Hill, Xavier Worthy, Drake May, Kyron Williams and Bucky Irving. But we'd like to hear from you all those guys ...” — Joe P. Zapia [31:27]

Key Takeaways:

• Discrepancies in Projections: Several players have projections that may not align with their past performances or potential, warranting cautious drafting.
• Efficiency vs. Volume: High volume does not always equate to high performance, and efficiency metrics should be closely monitored.
• Team Dynamics Impact: Players’ roles and team changes (like new teammates or coaching strategies) significantly influence their fantasy output.

Listeners are encouraged to critically evaluate player projections and consider both statistical trends and contextual factors when preparing for the 2025 fantasy football season.

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